Doesn't yet support waypoint flight planning. Some features accessible only via in-app purchase. Not recommended for novice pilots. iOS only.

Bottom Line

Auto Flight Logic's Autopilot for DJI adds automated flight control to Phantom and Inspire drones, but it requires some expertise to use.

The DJI Phantom 3 Professional, Phantom 3 Advanced ($999), and Phantom 2 Vision+ are some of the most popular consumer droneson the market. DJI also makes the Inspire 1, a favored model among pros and serious enthusiasts. Each drone supports first person view (FPV) flying via an iOS or Android device, in conjunction with a physical remote control. With some practice, you can use them to capture compelling aerial video footage. But there are limits to what you can do with manual flight controls, and that's where Auto Flight Logic's Autopilot for DJI ($19.99) app comes in. Autopilot adds automated flight control to Phantom and Inspire drones. It works though it definitely requires some time and expertise to master.

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Flight ModesAutopilot is currently available for iOS devices only, and works on both the iPhone and iPad. It has a total of eight different flight modes, all but one offering some sort of automation. Black Box mimics the default, manual control offered by the DJI Pilot (for the Phantom 3 and Inspire) and DJI Vision apps (for the Phantom 2 models). It adds audio recording, which isn't offered by any DJI app, and telemetry data logging, which Phantom 2 owners don't have access to by default.

There's also a mode that lets you fly manually, but automatically moves the camera gimbal to track the remote control or a set point of interest—choosing a POI is as easy as moving a pin on an in-app map. It's called Focus and it's one of the modes where owning an Inspire 1 will come in very handy. The Inspire's camera can spin on a 360-degree axis, so there's no need to change the orientation of the drone to keep it pointed at the target. The yaw adjustment of the Phantom 2 and 3 cameras is very limited in comparison.

Of the fully computerized flight tools, only Follow is included with the app's base functionality. It tracks your movements, assuming you're holding onto the remote control for your quadcopter. You can set altitude and distance at which the drone follows you, and you can set the point of focus of the camera separately. In all computer-controlled flight modes, the camera can be directed to hone in on the remote control or on a set point of interest.

Of all the modes available, Orbit ($4.99) is the one I used most frequently during testing. It flies the drone in a circular pattern—clockwise or counterclockwise—with a programmable altitude, radius, and speed. At the same time, the camera stays pointed at the set POI. It's a pretty stunning camera move that would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to execute with manual controls. Think of it as an aerial version of the circular tracking shot at the climax of Werner Herzog's Aguirre: The Wrath of God.It's more than worth the $4.99 in-app purchase cost.

Target ($4.99) mode is also an in-app purchase. It allows you to set a point on a map to which your drone will fly automatically. Speed and altitude are set for the flight. You can move the target mid-flight, which is sort of a substitute for waypoint flying—but it's not a true substitute for a true pre-planned waypoint route.

Zip Line (4.99) is similar to Target, but it allows you to set both start and end positions for a route. Each point can be set for a different altitude—imagine setting it to pull up and away from a subject in a dramatic fashion. And, as with all modes, the preferred flight speed can be set.

There are two hybrid flight modes, which combine automated and manual control. Intercept is included with the app and allows you to fly the drone by changing the direction that you point your phone and the drone remote. It will automatically move in that direction at a set speed.

Finally, there's Mimic ($4.99). It allows you to control your drone by tilting your phone. It's neat to be able to move the aircraft in a direction in this manner, but personally I'm more comfortable with joystick control. This is one add-on purchase that you can feel comfortable skipping.

Different Drones, Different CapabilitiesAutopilot's hardware support is limited to DJI drones. It works with the Phantom 2 Vision+, the Phantom 3 Advanced, the Phantom 3 Professional, and the Inspire 1—but its capabilities with each model vary. All of the Phantom models use a similar camera gimbal that can only face forward, which limits some of the automated camera control. The Inspire 1 has a gimbal that rotates 360 degrees, so it's a bit more capable in terms of automated camera movements.

Some of Autopilot's functions are coming to the Phantom 3 and Inspire 1 models via a firmware update. When the Standard model was announced, DJI promised to add waypoint flying and point of interest focus (which mimics Orbit) to its current quadcopter lineup. Phantom 3 models are also getting Follow Me, although DJI chose not to support that in the Inspire 1. These updates may limit Autopilot's appeal, especially for Phantom owners, but Inspire pilots who want to use Follow Me, Focus, and Zipline will still find a lot of here.

Top speed also varies. If you have the older Phantom 2 Vision+, you're limited to automated flight at about 20 miles per hour. The Phantom 3 models and Inspire 1 are capable of speeds up to 45 miles per hour. That's a big difference, and especially important if you're flying over expansive landscapes—even at 45mph, wide shots flying over landscapes can look a bit slow on video.

If you stick to the Basic modes—which is a good idea when you're first learning to use the app—you probably won't notice some of the limitations on gimbal control when using a Phantom drone. But if you switch to Intermediate or Advanced mode, you'll see more options available in regards to camera control. The Focus Strategy control panel appears here and it lets you choose between Subject, Touch, Joystick, Direction, or Passive modes. Subject keeps the camera pointing down at the POI you've selected, Touch allows you to adjust the gimbal via your phone or tablet's touch screen, Joystick lets you use the sticks on the remote control to move the camera, Direction changes camera position by tilting and moving your iOS device, and Passive enables full manual gimbal control via the remote.

When you're flying with the Inspire, switching to Joystick or Direction certainly allows more camera control than you'd enjoy with a Phantom. And in that regard, Autopilot is a solid choice for Inspire 1 owners who want to enjoy the benefits of its nimble gimbal, even when a dedicated camera operator isn't available.

There are a few other perks to using Autopilot. It uses the mic in your iOS device to record an audio log, so you can make notes or commentary about a flight and play it back later. Flight telemetry data is also recorded and can be offloaded from your device using iTunes. And, if you have an Apple Watch, you can use it to monitor telemetry or disengage the automated sequence.

But there are also dangers. If you set up an automated route or maneuver and don't properly gauge the path, you could find your drone colliding violently with another solid object. It's possible to cancel a route quickly, either by tapping Disengage in the app or by switching the remote control away from the "F" flight control setting, but you'll want to spend some time practicing automated flight in an expansive area, free of obstacles, before jumping in. This isn't for casual pilots.

Camera control is also a bit limited. You can start recording from the app, but you'll still need to use DJI Go to change resolution settings or aircraft flight settings. You'll also have to make sure that your drone's firmware is up to date in order for the software to work.

ConclusionsNot everyone needs to use the Autopilot software—and not everyone should. Despite including a pretty comprehensive online manual, Autopilot is a dense application. Each mode has a series of parameters that have to be set with care. I came close to flying an Inspire 1 into a telephone pole simply because I had the wrong center point selected for an orbit at one point. Thankfully, my command to abort the sequence was obeyed immediately. Like a table saw in the hands of a master operator, the software can create beautiful results. But if you don't know what you're doing, you can cut off some fingers.

And there's the cost. At $19.99 to start, and just under $40 if you unlock its full functionality, Autopilot is one of the more expensive phone apps you can buy. But you can't compare it with Angry Birds. Spending a little bit of money to add automated flight control to an aircraft that you've already invested anywhere between $800 and $2,800 in is less of an ask, and worthwhile if you're really trying to improve your aerial video work or if you use your Inspire 1 to help pay the bills.

Ultimately, Autopilot is a much more appealing purchase for Inspire 1 owners, due to the greater capability for automated camera movement offered by its 360-degree gimbal. If you've already invested in an Inspire and are drawn to some of the features offered by Autopilot, I recommend spending a little bit of money and a lot of time to learn to use the software, as it can certainly set your video apart from others. Phantom 3 owners may want to wait a bit to see if the automated flight updates coming from DJI satisfy their needs.

About the Author

Senior digital camera analyst for the PCMag consumer electronics reviews team, Jim Fisher is a graduate of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he concentrated on documentary video production. Jim's interest in photography really took off when he borrowed his father's Hasselblad 500C and light meter in 2007. He honed his writing skills at re... See Full Bio

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Auto Flight Logic Autopilot for DJI (for iPad)

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